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Rattlers Late Lead Disappears Against Lansing

Lugnuts beat Rattlers 3-2
Israel Puello allowed one unearned run on one hit over 6-1/3 innings against the Lansing Lugnuts at home on August 26, 2022. (Wisconsin Timber Rattlers)
August 27, 2022

GRAND CHUTE, WI – The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers let a 2-0 lead get away from them late in a frustrating 3-2 loss to the Lansing Lugnuts Friday night at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium. The loss wasted a fine pitching performance by Israel Puello.

GRAND CHUTE, WI – The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers let a 2-0 lead get away from them late in a frustrating 3-2 loss to the Lansing Lugnuts Friday night at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium. The loss wasted a fine pitching performance by Israel Puello.

Click here for the boxscore of this game

Jose Acosta put Wisconsin (60-57 overall, 24-28 second half) on top in the bottom of the second inning with a two-out, solo home run to center.

Joe Gray Jr made it 2-0 with his fifteenth home run of the season. Gray’s blast went to the Lansing bullpen with one out in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Puello, the Rattlers starting pitcher, took a no-hitter into the sixth inning before Lawrence Butler broke up the bid with a two-out, ground rule double. Puello got the first out of the top of the seventh inning but walked back-to-back hitters on full counts and turned it over to the bullpen. He allowed one hit, walked five and struck out six over his 6-1/3 innings of the season to put himself in line for the win.

Taylor Floyd got the first out on a flyball to right that allowed the runner on second to tag and take third. A misplay on a grounder to first off the bat of Shahid Valenzuela allowed a run to score before Floyd could get the final out

In the top of the eighth inning, Floyd struck out the first batter, but walked Butler and hit Jared McDonald on an 0-2 pitch to end his night.

James Meeker was called into the game and he would walk Shane McGuire on the 3-2 pitch at the end of a nine-pitch at bat.

That brough Joshwan Wright to the plate with the bases loaded. Meeker got ahead 0-2, but Wright barely got a piece on a swing at a pitch in the dirt to stay alive. Then, Wright sent a high chopper to first that was misplayed for another error to let the tying run score and keep the bases loaded.

Lansing (49-69, 24-28) was 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position in the game. The one hit was a single to center by Alexander Campos on the first pitch after Wright reached on the error. McDonald scored the go-ahead run. Gray came up firing and threw out McGuire trying to score from second on the play for the second out of the inning, but the damage had been done.

The Rattlers tried to rally in their half of the eighth. They had two on after a single by Darrien Miller, a fielder’s choice for Eduardo García, and a single by Clarke against Osvaldo Berrios.

Trayson Kubo took over for Berrios from the Lansing bullpen. Kubo got the second out of the inning before he walked Gray to load the bases. Then, Kubo got the final out to strand all three runners.

Kubo struck out the side in order in the bottom of the ninth for his second save of the series and tenth save of the season.

Game five of the series is Saturday night. Alexander Cornielle is set to make his Midwest League debut as the starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Lansing has named Kyle Virbitsky (1-1, 4.15) as their starter. Game time at Neuroscience Group Field is 6:40pm.

Olympic Gold Medalist and WWE Hal of Famer Kurt Angle is making an appearance for Wrestling Night at the Ballpark on Saturday. It’s true! It’s true! Angle is recording The Kurt Angle Show podcast in the Fox Communities Credit Union Fox Club from 3:00pm to 4:30pm. There are two ticket options. Fans may attend the podcast and receive a box seat ticket for $39. If you are looking for a VIP experience with the WWE Hall of Famer there is an option to attend the podcast, get into a special meet-and greet with Kurt Angle starting after the podcast until around 6:00pm, and a box seat ticket for $79. Either option may be purchased at this link using promo code “Angle” and selecting either VIP or Podcast. Kurt Angle will be available for limited autographs and photos during the game, too.

Tundraland presents postgame fireworks with Kids Run the Bases post-fireworks for children twelve and under courtesy of Meijer on a Family Night from Stacey Hennessey Century 21 Affiliated and 101.1 WIXX for this game, too.

If you can’t make it out to the ballpark, the radio broadcast is on AM1280, WNAM and internet audio starting at 6:20pm. The game is also available on MiLB.tv for subscribers. Fans in Northeastern Wisconsin may watch the game on CW-14 starting at 6:30pm.